Florists from Malmesbury and Devizes are the best of the bunch at Chelsea Flower Show
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A TALENTED florist from Malmesbury has won a prestigious silver medal for the second time at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Miss Hepworth, who runs Persephone Violet on High Street won silver for the second time in the Young Chelsea Florist of the Year competition for her floral throne.

She was amongst the pick of the UK's professional florists who qualified for the Chelsea finals, having beaten hundreds of potential contenders.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have won another silver Chelsea medal," she explained.

"It has been a really challenging eight weeks in the making, so I am delighted to have achieved such a fantastic result."

Miss Hepworth and her fellow finalists were given just eight weeks to design and make a floral throne mostly using fresh flowers along the theme of spring weddings.

She said: "“My floral throne design was made up of many flowers including Alliums, Veronica, Craspedia, Succulents, Viburnum, Clematis, Jasmin tendrils, Amaranthus and Stocks to name a few.

"It took weeks to plan and over 300 hours to create.”

The base framework was created by the extremely talented Chris Evans of Malmesbury Iron works and gate company. Chris took my pencil sketch and brought it to life in metal form exactly as I had pictured it. With the base I was able to paint and embellish to create the final look” said Emily. “It took weeks to plan and over 300 hours to create.”

The RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year competitions are organised by the British Florist Association in association with the Royal Horticultural Society.

“The RHS Chelsea Florist of the Year competitions are a fantastic showcase of the technical skills and creativity of the UK’s professional florists,” said Tracy Tomlinson, Manager of the British Florist Association. “To compete in the Chelsea finals is an incredible achievement and these florists can be very proud of their success.”

Emily Smith from Ammi Flowers in Maryport Street, Devizes also won a bronze medal for her floral throne.